Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)’s move to include women in the potential list of candidates for the country’s first manned space mission signals a good beginning for the nation, especially for the India women.
The country is proud of the sporting success of Saina Nehwals and M.C. Mary Koms and that of Naina Kidwais and Arundhati Bhattacharyas in the financial sector.”But having a presence in the country’s first manned space mission will add swagger and more to Indian womanhood,” the Mint said in its edit piece on Friday.
But there are many more frontiers to be conquered. For a country such as India where societal prejudices have stifled the progress of women, a successful space expedition with a woman onboard will do a world of good for the others, it observed.
“…The women in this country have many barriers to cross—securing a ticket on a manned space flight is a very small but important one. In a country struggling to embrace the meaning of “Beti bachao, beti padhao”, an Indian woman in the country’s own space flight might just be the story those small village girls, currently burdened with the drudgery of domestic chores, need to read or be told about,” the edit piece said.
